The Loner

Zoo Freaks, get ready to vibe with some far-out trivia about "The Loner," a killer track by Neil Young from his 1977 compilation album Decade. This song, originally released on Young’s self-titled debut solo album in 1968, is a raw, guitar-driven banger that marked a pivotal moment in his career. In a 1973 radio interview, Young himself said, “On my first album, I like ‘The Loner.’ I felt like I was getting into something different there, starting to,” hinting at how the track was a bold step into new sonic territory after his Buffalo Springfield days. The song’s unique guitar tone, achieved by running Young’s guitar through a Leslie speaker without an amp, gave it those trippy “psycho guitar noises,” as producer David Briggs described in the biography Shakey. It’s like the Zoo Crew’s spinning a record that’s half rock, half cosmic experiment!

Here’s a groovy tidbit: there’s been chatter among fans that “The Loner” might be about Stephen Stills, Young’s bandmate from Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The theory got so wild that a 1972 Melody Maker feature on Stills was titled “Stephen Stills: The Loner.” But in that interview, Stills flipped the script, suggesting the song was more about Young himself. Young’s never confirmed either way, keeping it mysterious, which totally fits the song’s vibe of a brooding, solitary figure. Rolling Stone praised it back in the day, calling it a “contemporary lament” with a slick blend of Young’s icy vocals and non-intrusive strings arranged by David Blumberg. And dig this—Stills later covered the song on his 1976 album Illegal Stills, proving its lasting impact.

Another cool story comes from the Decade liner notes, where Young wrote that the track featured Jim Messina on bass and George Grantham on drums, with him overdubbing everything else except the strings. That raw, hands-on approach is pure Neil Young, capturing the song’s gritty energy. Fans on Reddit’s Neil Young community still geek out over how “The Loner” set the stage for Young’s heavier, grungier sound on albums like Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. It’s no wonder the song’s a staple in his live sets, with its D modal tuning (learned alongside Stills) cranking up the intensity. The Zoo Crew’s got a gem here that’s both a time capsule and a timeless rocker.

Now, let’s rewind to how Neil Young got his start, because this cat’s journey is as wild as a Zoo Freak dance party. Born in Toronto, Canada, on November 12, 1945, Young kicked off his musical career in the early 1960s, playing in Winnipeg bands like The Squires, where he was already writing his own tunes. By 1966, he’d moved to Los Angeles and co-founded Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, blending folk, rock, and country into a sound that blew minds. Their 1967 hit “For What It’s Worth” put them on the map, but Young’s restless spirit led him to go solo after the band split in 1968. That’s when he dropped his debut album, Neil Young, with “The Loner” as its standout track, signed to Reprise Records thanks to his manager Elliot Roberts, who he shared with Joni Mitchell.

Young’s early solo career was a mix of raw experimentation and pure grit. He hooked up with the band Crazy Horse for his second album, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969), and never looked back, churning out classics like After the Gold Rush and Harvest. His high tenor voice, jagged guitar riffs, and deeply personal lyrics made him a legend, earning him two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions—one for his solo work in 1995 and another with Buffalo Springfield in 1997. The dude’s still rocking, with over 40 studio albums and a fierce commitment to causes like environmentalism and Farm Aid, which he co-founded in 1985. You can keep up with his latest gigs and releases on his official site, Neil Young Archives, where he’s got a treasure trove of rare recordings.

For all you Zoo Freaks wanting to connect with the Neil Young vibe, check out his socials: Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans are all over the place, too, with awesome communities like Thrasher’s Wheat, a fan site packed with concert reviews, lyrics analysis, and more, running since 1996. There’s also the Neil Young Fans Facebook group, where diehards swap stories and debate his best albums. So, crank up “The Loner,” hit those sites, and let the Zoo Crew keep the Neil Young spirit alive!